Arctic Council Adds 6 Nations as Observer States, Including China

KIRUNA, Sweden — The Arctic Council
agreed on Wednesday to expand to include six new nations, including
China, as observer states, as a changing climate opens the Arctic to
increasing economic and political competition.

The inclusion of observer states to the council came after a spirited
debate at its biennial meeting and reflected the growing prominence of
the issues facing the region. The council is made up of the eight Arctic
nations: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and
the United States.

With the Arctic ice melting, the region’s abundant supplies of oil, gas
and minerals have become newly accessible, as have shortened shipping
routes and open water for commercial fishing, setting off a global
competition for influence and economic opportunities far beyond the
nations that border the Arctic.